Envelope opener and mailing card



July 19, 1966 D.'T. ROBBINS ENVELOPE OPENER AND MAILING CARD Filed Oct. 19, 1964 INVENTOR. DANIEL T. ROBBINS ,M&M

United States Patent M 3,261,539 ENVELOPE OPENER AND MAILING CARD Daniel T. Robbins, 11245 Runnymede,

Sun Valley, Calif. Filed Oct. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 404,721 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-85) The present invention relates generally to stationary and has particular reference to envelopes of the self-opening nature and a card insert for use with such envelopes.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved self-opening envelope with an insert either therein or to be furnished with the envelope for insertion thereinto, the card insert being so arranged as to constitute a cutter or opener for the envelope in the hands of the person to whom it is addressed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved card insert for a self-opening envelope which can be readily adapted for use as a return mailing card.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved card insert for a self-opening envelope which may be utilized as a carrier for an article or articles in sheet form,

Finally, it is an object to provide an envelope and card insert of the aforementioned character which are simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a view of the envelope with the card insert positioned therein;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the same envelope with the opening tab folded over and the card insert partially removed;

FIGURE 3 is a view showing a modification of the card insert;

FIGURE 4 is a view showing a further modification of the card insert; and

FIGURE 5 is a view showing a still further modification of the card insert.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral represents an envelope which in general construction or design is similar to any well-known envelope. Adjacent one end of the envelope, and preferably on the back side thereof, there is provided a linear weakened area beginning and ending in one edge of the envelope and indicated by the reference numeral 12. This linear weakened area may be formed by spaced perforations or any other well-known means and when the material of the envelope is severed along this weakened area, a flap or tab 14 is provided which may be folded over to expose the contents of the envelope for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

A card insert 16 is provided for insertion into the envelope prior to sealing. This card is of generally rectangular shape but the end adjacent the tab 14 is formed with a centrally located edge portion 18 that is narrower than the space between the ends of the linear weakened area 12 as clearly shown. Sloping away from end edge portion 18 are two beveled or inclined edges 20 which serve as cutting edges.

When it is desired to open envelope to obtain access to the contents thereof, the tab 14 is folded back by severing the material of the envelope along the linear weakened area 12. This exposes the end edge portion 18 of the card insert which may be grasped between the thumb and finger of one hand as shown in FIGURE 2. With 3,261,539 Patented July 19, 1966 the other hand holding the envelope, movement of the card insert outwardly will cause the edges 20 to shear the edge 22 of the envelope thus forming an opening through which the contents of the envelope may be withdrawn.

A particularly novel aspect of the invention resides in the card insert 16, which is preferably formed of somewhat heavier material than the envelope 10 so thatit will be sufficiently stiff to provide proper shearing action. Adjacent the end edge portion 18 the card insert 16 is provided with a linear weakened area 24, such as perforations or the like, extending transversely across the card insert 16 and generally parallel to the opposite end 26. This facilitates severing the end portion 28* from the card insert after it has been removed from the envelope. The remainder of the card insert indicated by the numeral 29, being rectangular in form, can be used as a return mailing card or receipt, or for various forms of advertising as desired.

A modified card insert 16 is shown in FIGURE 3. This card insert is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, but is modified to the extent that a C-shaped slit 30 is cut in the end portion 28 to form a foldable tab 32. This tab functions as a clip to retain the usual letter or any other like piece of sheet material, indicated by the broken line 33, with the card insert 16' so that when the card insert is withdrawn from the envelope, the material carried by the card insert may be withdrawn therewith. As described above, a return mailing card portion 29 is provided by scoring or perforating at 24'.

A further modification of the structure shown in FIG- URE 3 is disclosed in FIGURE 4. In this modified card insert 16" a second C-shaped slit 35 is cut adjacent the other end of card insert 16" to form a foldable tab 36 which is in confronting relation with the foldable tab 32. The material to be carried by the insert 16" is positioned between the two tabs 32 and 36, respectively, as shown by the broken line 38. This provides a much more secure attachment than that shown in FIGURE 3. If desired, weakened linear areas 40 and 42 may be provided at each end of the card insert so that the ends thereof may be removed and the central portion 29" used as a return mailing card.

The structure of FIGURE 3 may be further modified as shown in FIGURE 5 by providing a simple card insert 44 which is in effect the same as FIGURE 3 but with the return mailing card portion of the card omitted.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made Without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim.

1. The combination comprising:

an envelope having a foldable tab portion defined by a linear weakened area beginning and ending in one edge of the envelope;

a card insert in said envelope having an end edge portion adjacent said one edge of said envelope shorter than the distance between the ends of said linear weakened area;

said card insert having an edge at each end of said end edge portion disposed at an angle to the latter and providing means for severing the remainder of said edge of the envelope after the tab portion has been severed at said linear weakened area; and

said card insert being provided with a linear weakened area extending transversely thereof adjacent said angled edge portions, whereby a rectangular mailing card is defined.

3 4 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said card insert References Cited by the Examiner is provided with a first cut-out tab between said linear UNITED STATES PATENTS weakened area and said end edge portion.

3.v The structure of claim 2 in which said card insert 354138 12/1886 Homan 229 92'5 892,461 7/1908 Stevens 22992 8 1s provided with a second linear weakened area ad acent 5 1 198 679 9/1916 the other end thereof; Thomson et 22985 a second cut-out tab between said second weakened FOREIGN PATENTS area and said other end; and 227,083 10/1924 Gl'6flt Britain. said first and second cut-out tabs being in confronting 74,341 2/ 1917 witzerland.

1 whereby an may be held there- JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

' D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: AN ENVELOPE HAVING A FOLDABLE TAB PORTION DEFINED BY A LINEAR WEAKENED AREA BEGINNING AND ENDING IN ONE EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE; A CARD INSERT IN SAID ENVELOPE HAVING AN END EDGE PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE EDGE OF SAID ENVELOPE SHORTER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID LINEAR WEAKENED AREA; SAID CARD INSERT HAVING AN EDGE AT EACH END OF SAID END EDGE PORTION DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LATTER AND PROVIDING MEANS FOR SEVERING THE REMAINDER OF SAID EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE AFTER THE TAB PORTION HAS BEEN SEVERED AT SAID LINEAR WEAKENED AREA; AND SAID CARD INSERT BEING PROVIDED WITH A LINEAR WEAKENED AREA EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF ADJACENT SAID ANGLED EDGE PORTIONS, WHEREBY A RECTANGULAR MAILING CARD IS DEFINED. 